Toowoomba fighter chases One FC world title

Ben Drewe
Sports editor
Ben studied the double degree of journalism/sport and recreation at Charles Sturt University, Bathurst. During this time he did a bit of work for the Western Advocate in Bathurst. Upon completion of tertiary studies Ben spent four years at the Central Western Daily in Orange, New South Wales before joining The Chronicle in February 2010.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS: One FC is to Asia what the UFC is to the rest of the world.

It is huge and getting bigger.

That makes Reece McLaren's efforts to secure a One FC bantamweight world title fight even more incredible.

McLaren will take on reigning champion Bibiano Fernandes in Manilla, Philippines on December 2 in what is the biggest contest of the former Toowoomba athlete's life.

"It's beyond exciting really. I have got no words for how excited I am,” he said.

McLaren, who used to train out of Kachi MMA in North Toowoomba and narrowly missed out on representing Australia at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in wrestling, moved from the Garden City to the Gold Coast about 18 months ago to immerse himself in the sport.

He lives out of a shed and trains at Potential Unlimited MMA at Burleigh which seems to work for him.

"I have been training full time for 18 months,” McLaren said.

"I have come on in leaps and bounds the last 18 months.”

Brazilian Fernandes has held the One FC bantamweight title since 2013 and is unbeaten in his past 11 fights.

He is also undefeated in championship bouts so McLaren faces a massive challenge.

"You have the UFC and the only rival they have is One FC,” McLaren said.

"It is probably the biggest title out of the UFC.

"He is probably the best bantamweight not to fight in the UFC.”

McLaren is not without a chance though as he has taken down two heavily-fancied opponents on the way to earning his title shot.